The War of Eternity

Chapter 12

Starclaw's POV 

She started to get close to the ground. Carrying two half-grown wolves was more challenging than some wolves might think. She needed to rest from flying the whole time.

"So what just happened, Finn?" Starclaw said, panting, searching, looking for anything that had to do with water while they were on the ground.

"I saw Moonstone when I collapsed, and she said that she was in the dragon mountains," Finn said, dragging out the word, totally making it clear that he was being sarcastic.

"Finn, you lied to me. You told me she was in the mountains," Starclaw said, raising her voice.

"I did tell you, she just didn't say it specifically where, though it was kind of just obvious," Finn said.

"We're gonna go there, no matter what, and after that, I'm gonna tease you endlessly about having magic —in more ways than one— love conversations with Moonstone."

Finn's eyes went wide with surprise. Starclaw imagined him being bright red and burst out laughing. Teasing him about his crush on Moonstone would never get old.

"Anyways, we should keep going," Finn said, trying to change the subject.

"You're right, we should be able to fly at least a few more hours before nightfall, and we don't want to waste any time that we could use searching for Moonbeam." Sage chimed from where she was lying under a tree.

"It's Moonstone," Finn corrected. Of course, he had to be so precise with everything involving Moonstone.

"Whatever. Let's just go."

Starclaw nodded at that, making her wings appear again then launching into the air. She soared a little farther, then wheeled back and grabbed her friends, faltering a little bit as she got used to flying with so much weight.

She thought back to what seemed like a lifetime ago but was just a couple of days when she could fly only a few feet before falling. It was funny how fast you learn when your enemy kidnaps your adopted sister.

She willed herself to fly for a few more hours before her tired wings gave out and she had to land for the night. Well, it wasn't landing.

More like falling out of the sky than catching herself enough right before she hit the rocky ground. Then collapsed in a heap, though not before she made sure that her friends were okay from the fall. They were as okay as someone can be after falling out of the sky. So, she let her heavy eyes close and drifted off into dreams.

                                                                     • • •

She saw everything so clearly. There it was, a Phoenix right in front of her. Somehow Moonstone's parents were also there, but she never looked over to them. Somehow she just knew they were her parents. The Phoenix had a mortal and centaur and even a griffin right next to it. These all seemed like myths, but it felt so real that it was a vision of what would happen. The Phoenix then moved its wings and touched her Lunar stone, and she jolted awake. She was panting hard, trying to put it all together. Then she realized she was not in her cave, nor was she alone.

Sage was sitting right next to her with her eyes closed and so concentrated, and there was a thin, glowing line between Starclaw's and Sage's lunar stone.

"Oh, thank goodness you're ok. I was so worried because you fell asleep and then stopped breathing, then tentacles came out. I tried to fight them, and then I finally started winning. Then I focused on trying to keep you alive as much as possible." Sage said the way too fast for her still hazy brain.

"I'm okay," she scanned the cave realizing Finn wasn't there. "Where is Finn? He should be around here somewhere." Starclaw asked, scanning the area again.

She then finally spotted him. He was behind her in the shadows of the cave. But the weirdest thing was that he was surrounded by water like a bubble. His fur and stone were glowing a brilliant ocean blue, his usually navy fur was now white. Then the bubble popped but there was no splatter. Just a huge puddle on the floor.

"I don't know what to say to that," Starclaw said in complete amazement.

"Oh," Finn said, looking up at her from where he had his head bowed. His fur calmed down and went back to what it was before. "I thought you were still knocked out."

"Well, now it's fair. I shared my secret. Now you share yours." She said with a bit of added sass in her tone.

"This explains so much," Sage said quietly from where she was still sitting. "Like how your cave is decorated with little fake sea creatures and how you always eat fish. Plus, you like swimming way more than a normal wolf should, and your cave is the closest to the lake."

"Huh. I guess I never really thought about that, but I guess you're right." Then she realized Finn had gotten very quiet. "Are you okay, Finn?"

"Yeah...."

"Mmmm, I'm not convinced. What's up?" Sage asked. She always could somehow tell when someone was lying. It was like her second Lunar Stone power.

"Nothing. I'm going to go for a walk."

"Um, okay?" Finn walked off without another word. Then she turned to Sage, whose Lunar Stone was still connected to hers.

"What do you think that was all about?" She asked as soon as Finn was out of their sight.

"No idea, but can you disconnect your lunar stone from mine? It's bothering me."

"I don't know how to," Starclaw admitted. "Stuff like this just happens with no warning."

"Oh! Then maybe..." Sage's voice trailed off as she walked away from her. Instantly, the string connecting them recoiled back into her Lunar Stone.

Which, of course, had to create the worst headache in history. It felt like someone was trying to cook her brain in a volcano. She curled up on the rough ground and stayed there until the headache finally faded.

When she shakily stood, she expected sage to be looking at her with her best "what just happened" and "are you okay" face on. But she wasn't. She had her back to Starclaw.

Sage was staring off into the forest with her ears perked up like she was listening to something. She cocked her head to the side in confusion and went to stand next to her.

Sage continued staring off into the forest when she said, "do you hear that?"

"No? What is it?"

"I think.....trouble," was the only thing she said before she took off into the forest. She, of course, raced after her. She wondered what she could hear and why couldn't she hear it? With her hearing being extra sensitive, she usually picked up sounds a lot more easily than the others. But right now, all she could hear was the quiet noise of forest animals.

Sage finally brought her to a clearing, and Starclaw found her crouched behind a large piece of brush. She crouched down next to her and peered through the branches. She saw flashes of wings and scales.

Dragons flashed through her mind. Then they moved aside to reveal a tied-up and drugged Finn. She almost cried out to him but stopped herself. She couldn't have another member of her friend group be captured by the dragons! She just couldn't!

She was about to charge into the clearing when Sage stopped her. She mouthed to her, "not the right time. Too many." With that, she let out a quiet sigh and settled down again. She kept waiting for Sage to give a signal or something, but she never did. We just kept sitting there and sitting there until the dragons spread their wings and launched into the sky. Taking Finn with them. 

Hey guys Im sorry I haven't updated in a while. Ive been out of town so here are the chapters I missed. Happy Labor Day weekend and for those of you who don't celebrate it, I hope you have a great day. <3